Safety means for wringers



Oct. 1. 1 w. 1.. KAUFFMAN. 2D 2,216,392

SAFETY MEANS FOR WRINGEIS I Filed Feb/l6. 195a z slim-4,11. 1

i325; 36 L5 550 /2 I 4 fi J I I h HIP flail /o VUw/ I QINVENTOR.

BY/Y Z A TTORNEYS.

0d. 1. 1940 w. L. KAUFFMXQ. 2D v j 2,216,392

SAFETY MEANS FOR WRINGERS Filed Feb. 16. 1938 2 Shoots-Shoot 2 INVENTOR.

Bvyvzfl g ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 1, ,1940

UNITED STATES SAFETY MEANS FOR- WRINGERS Walter L. Kauflman, II, Erie, Pa.

Application February 16, 1938; Serial No. 190,802

SCIaims.

This invention is designed to improve the safety feature of a power wringer. In the exemplification of the invention as herein shown this is accomplished by breaking the driving connection so as to stop the indrawlng action of the rolls should an operator be caught in the rolls. The invention particularly involves a means of breaking the connection by a movement of the wringer forward and back or up and down. The up and down release is particularly efiective with relation to children who may be caught in reaching up to the wringer. With the present invention the down-pull of the child so caught stops the driving action and provides a safety feature.

Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows: Fig. 1 shows a central vertical section of the power end of a wringer on the line l-i in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 a front elevation of the wringer partly in section, the driving mechanism being released by a downward pull on the wringer.

Fig. 3 a plan view of the wringer in central or working position.

Fig. 4 a plan view, a part of the case being removed to better show construction, the driving parts being in release position through a forward pulling of the wringer.

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the driving connection in section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 an end view of the wringer detached.

The wringer proper has the usual base I, side stiles 2 (one of the stiles not being shown), top bar 3, lower and upper wringer rolls4 and 5, lower roll bearings 6 supported by bracket I in the side stiles 2, said bearings receiving the lower wringer roll shaft 8. Upper bearings 3 are slidingly mounted in the stiles, these bearings receiving an upper roll shaft it. While only the bearings at the driving end of the wringer are shown, it will be understood that similar bearings are 5 provided in the opposite stile. A spring ll rests on the upper bearings and a screw i2 is provided for adjusting the spring. These parts are or may be of usual construction.

The wringer is supported on a post l3. The

6 upper end of this post is provided with a swivel bearing H on which a gear case and wringer support I5 is mounted. A shoulder l8 at the lower end of the bearing [4 is provided with openings I! for receiving the spring actuated locking 55 bolt I3. By swinging the support, the wringer may be swung to different desired positions and may be locked in the different positions by the locking bolt l8.

A drive .shaft l9 extends upwardly from a source of power through the post l3, the drive 5 shaft having a bearing, in the upper end of the post. The upper end of the shaft I9 is keyed to a hub 2| of a beveled gear 22. Opposing beveled gears 23 are journaled on a shaft 24. This shaft 24 is journaled in,bearings 24a in the case. 10 These gears have the clutch detents 25 which are adaptedto be engaged by interlocking detents 26 on the sliding clutch member 21, the, sliding clutch member being splined on the shaft 24 (spline not shown). A crank pin 28 extends 15 in a groove 29 in the clutch member 21. The crank pin is mounted on a shaft 28a 'journaled in a bearing l5a in the case. A handle 28b is secured to the.upper end of the shaft and is provided with a spring actuated ball 28c acting on 0 detents 28d on a shoulder 28c on the case so that the clutch member is yieldingly locked in its different set positions, namely neutral, forward and reverse, three detents 28d being provided in the shoulder.

Opposing friction clutch flanges 30 and 3| have their hubs fixed on the shafts 24 and 8 respectively. These flanges are backed by ball thrust bearings 32 and 33 respectively, the ball bearing 32 being backed against the inner bearing 24a 30 w and the bearing 33 being backed by a bracket 35 secured to the-stile 2. An annular rib 34 is arranged on the inside of the case l5. This rib opposes the flange 35a on the bracket 35. Bolts 36 extend through the rib 34 and flange 35a at 35 intervals. Springs 31 are arranged on the bolts, preferably one spring at each end of each bolt and exert thrust from the head and nut of the bolt, drawing the flange 35a yieldingly toward the rib 34. The thrust thus provided draws the 40 clutch flanges toward each other. Preferably a.

friction disc '38 is introduced between these flanges. The springs 31 are strong enough to provide a frictional engagement that will effect the driving of the wringer.

When the wringer is grasped or pulled in any direction it first brings the rib 34 and flange 35a aration with the down-pull on the wringer and in u --frame yielding under anyof. such thrusts effect- Figs. 4 and 5 which indicate a separation with a side pull on the wringer. v

While I have illustrated a safety device accomplished through a breaking of the driving connection, it will be understood that other forms of safety devices are contemplated in the broad phases'of the invention as responding to a movementof the wringer in different' directions, particularly downwardly to effect a safety action.

What I claim as new is: 1; In a wringer havinga frame, wringer rolls in the frame, pressure means for the rolls, driving means .for the rolls, and a' safety device; the combination with the safety device .of a sup-- port for the frame yielding for movement of the frame under normal operative thrusts forward and back and'downward from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the ,0 ing an actuation-of the safety device.

2. In a wringer having a frame, wringer rolls in the frame, pressuremean's for the rolls, driving means for the rolls, and a safety device; the combination with the safety device of a support for the frame yielding for movement of the frame under normal operative thrusts downwardly from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the frame yielding under such frame under normal operative thrusts in all dithrust effecting an actuation of the safety device.

3. In a wringer having a frame, wringer rolls in the.'frame, pressure means for the rolls, driving means for the rolls, and a safety device; the combination with the safety device of a support for the frame yielding for movement of the rections from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the frame yielding under any of such thrusts effecting an actuation of the safety device. 7

4. In a wringer having a frame, wringer rolls in the frame, and driving means for the rolls comprising a drivingjconnection; the combination with the connection ofa support for the frame yielding for movement of the frame under normal operative thrusts forward and back and downward from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the frame yielding under any of such thrusts breaking the connection.

6. In 'a wringer having a frame, wringer rolls in the frame, and driving means for. the rolls comprising a driving connection; the combination with the connection of a support for the frame yielding for movement of the frame under normal operative downward thrusts from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the frame yielding under such thrusts breaking the connection.

6. In a wringer having a frame, wringer rolls in the frame, and driving means for the rolls comprising a driving connection; the combination with the connection of a support for the frame yielding for movement-of the frame under normal operative thrusts in all, directions from operative position; and mechanism responsive to movements of the frame yieldingunder any of such thrusts breaking the connection.

in the frame, and a driving means for the wringer comprising a friction clutch with members set and released by relative axial movement; the combination with the clutch of a support for the frame comprising opposing movement, said members being separable through separable cross-members; yielding means holding said plates against a swinging relative movement of one end of the members, fulcrumed on the opposite ends of the members in response to movement oft-he wringer frame, said holding means exerting yielding pressure on the clutch with the wringer in set position and such separation ofthe cross-members separating the clutch members.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, II.

0 7. In a wringer having a frame,"v wringer rolls 

